Combination basket-ball and baseball game board



J. B. ODONNELL COMBINATION BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL GAMEBOARD Filed Nov. 14, 1927,

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ATTORNE Patented May 7, 1929.

u ETE s OHN B. ODONNELL, on KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI;

COMBINATION BASKET-BALL AND BA EBALL GAME BOARD.

Application filed November 14 1927. Serial No. 253,079.

The present invention relates to amuse- I ment devices, and the principal object in view is to devise an improved game board which will be adapted for playing of games simulating either the game of basketball or the game of baseball.

Accordingly, I have devised a game board having its field or playing surface provided with markings and goal cups corresponding .to the field markings and goal baskets of a basketball field, and also with markings representing a baseball diamond and including a transverse banking strip or stop adapted to overly one of the goal cups in order to cover the same when playing'the baseball game.

. l/Vith these general objects in view, the-in vention will now' be described by reference to the accompanylng drawing illustrating one form of embodiment of thisinvention,

after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing l Figure 1 is a plan view showing a combination game boardrembodying the invention, and illustrating its use as a basketball game board; I

Figure 2 is a transverse central longitudinal sectional View;-

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan View, showing one end portion of the board with the banking or rebound strip in position for use in connectionwith the baseball game; and

Figure 4 is a detail Sectional view, show ing said banking or rebound strip in place as in Figure 3. I

Referring now to the drawing in detail, I have illustrated therein my improved game board device as comprising a substantially rectangular board 5, the top face of which will represent the field for each of the games to be played, around which at each sidc'of said board 5 are positioned Vertical end pieces 6 and side or longitudinal strips 7, preferably lined with suitable felt strips 8 for increasing the resiliency of the inner playing of the faces thereof when used as banking or re-' bound surfaces in the playing of the games, as hereinafter explained.

The top surface of the board 5, representing the field for thegames, is marked with various characters and other designs or figures, correspondingto the field markings. of the games to be played. Referring first to similar device 23 is the markings of'the basketball these comprise the 'circle 10 inside which isthe g the board is provided a depression or recess,

which may be termed the goal cup 16 corresponding to the goal baskets of the regular game. Inside each of the goal cups 16 is preferably provided, a knob or wafer 17 which may be of resilient material, and adapted to be engaged by the playing devices asthese enter the cup. The resulting action will depend more or less upon "the character of the shot and the speed of' the device as it enters the'cup, under some conditions interfering somewhat with the'proper settling of the device into fiat position upon the bottom of the cup while under other conditions facilitating in a measure the lodging of the device in, such flat position within the cup, whereupon the knob or wafer will also serve to retain thedevice in place and render it more ditficult to dislodge the same by one of 'the-opponents devices. Between each of the goal cups 16 and. the adjacent end of the board is also positioned a relatively short cross cleat 18 of wood or the lik e, and with a, plain unfinished rebound face, against which the playing be banked in playing for goal. I

In 'the playing of the basketball game, each player use sa set of five playing devices, such as disks 20 and 22 respectively, five for each player, or contestant, and preferably the disks are of difi'erent colors to distinguish each players men. Another disk or g provided to represent In the playing of the. gamefeach the ball.

devices may Y contestant places one oflhis disks adjacent to his opponents free throw line 15, from which the players respectivelyshoot for the center line 12, propelling their men by snapping the same with the finger, the play: er whose man comes nearest to said cen-- ter line being allowed .thefirst play. The

illustrated in Figure, 1, representing positions similar to those assumed by players in the regular game; The first player shoots his man an an endeavor to strike the ball 23 'poiients men, thi-s'will count as a foul, entitle his opponent to place the ball on the and impel it in the direction ofthe goalgor he may cause the ball to strike another of his men, so as to make a pass, and thus entitle him to another shot. As long as he tsuc ceeds in striking another of his men, he may continue playing, and upon driving the ball into the basket represented by one of the goal cups 16, he thereby scores the number of points which may be agreed upon as the proper score for such play. However, should the players man strike one of the opand I free throw line, and endeavor by direct conbaseball diamond,

tactwith his linger to shoot it into the goal. Ifsuccessful, this Will also count as a score,

and the game again is started from the centei" of the field. fsamefashion until a predetermined number lot points have been scored, 'or for a fixed The game continues in the period of time agreed upon.

' For the playing of a baseball game, the surfaceoi the board 5 is provided with a series of cross stripes or bars spaced equidistant apart, and with the diamond shaped figure 2 lhaving the base markings 1,2, 3 and 4; corresponding to a within which, and between the circle 10 and the. bases 2 and 4 distinctive;

p the baseball game.

member 30 is also formed with a reccss33 are the longitudinal bars or stripes 26 and '27 for-facilitatingmarking ofi certain areas or spaces witliin. the diamond, for score markings as hereinafter ezqalaine d. Preferably, these stripes and figures 24 to '27 are colored differently from the markings of the, basketball -game, -to render the fields tone end ofth'e board I also provide a transverse banking or rebound device com- I prising across piece 3'0 adapted to rest flat- -1y uponthe top surface of the field and extending entirely across the board and formed with the angular banking or rcbound surfaces. 32 against which the playing devices may bdshot,- in the playing of The straight edge of the of the same size as the banking or rebound "member 18 for accommodating thela-tteiin order that the cross piece 30 may be fitted snugly within the end ofthe board, where it overlies andcovers the corresponding goal V in the corners cup l6, whichisnot to be used during the playing ofthe baseball game.

e 'VVithin the various outlines or spaces thus marked ofiupon the field 5 I provide varis ous score markings whereby diil'erent plays ing to rest in such space will cause his side to be out; correspondingly, the other outs, third base,

baseball fi ld men shot r spaces next to the S. 0. spaces and between them and the diamond 24 are marked 1-O, 2-0, 3 1 and H R, indicating one out, two and home run, respectively. Inside the diamond the spaces are provided with other markings, such as F S for foul strike, 1B and 2-B for one base and two base hits, respectively, SJ

inside one of the outlines or figures 14; is marked with the characters B B indicating base onballs, and inside the other outline '14 the space, is marl-zed with S T indicating a strike. I I

p In the playingoithe baseball game, each players men may be moved around the bases according as the player able to advance them. Nine, innings would represent a game, the same in the regular play, and three outs orsjide out indicating-ahalf inning. Having' placed the cross piece 30over the goal cup 16' at one end of the field, the

V'player entitled to next play shoots toward the rebound .or stop surfaces 32, contact with which causes the man or playing device to'rebound against one or the s de walls 7 andthence irregularly across the board until it comes to rest upon a space, the play- S. for sacrifice, and S. O. for side out. Further, the space er scoring ac'cordingto the markings of the space where his man comes to a stop". It may be agreed that in case the disk stops upon any str ight line ,this will score or count, as a strike. Again, in case at any time theplayers man shouldbounce into the un- 16, this may be equivalent covered goal cup to winning the game. e V

i It will thus be apparent that'Ihave devised a very simple and interesting combination game board, for fulfilling the desired objects of the invention, and at 'the same time it will be innderstood that the rules used in the playing ofthe games may be varied to almost any desired extent, according to the fancies of the players. WVhile I V have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, 'I desire also to be understood as reserving 'the'right to make all changes ormodifications as may fairly'fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus illustrated and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A combination basketball and baseball gameboard, comprising a board havingits upper face provided with markings simulating the markings of both a basketball and and formed with a cup or depressionbelow the surface of the field at each end thereof at points representing the goalso'f the basketball field, and a cross piece having "angularly arranged banking game, I one of said goal depressions to close the same during the playing of the baseball game.

7 2. A basketball game board device comprising a board having its upper face provided with markings simulating the markings of a basketball field and formed With a cup or depression below the upper surface of the field at each end thereof at points representing the goals of said fields, and a rebound member located at the surface of the board at each end thereof adjacent to the corresponding goal cup and projecting slightly above said surface in position to be struck by a player device When shot across the cup.

3. A basketball game board device comprising a board having its upper face provided With markings simulating the markings of a basketball field and formed with a cup or depression below the upper surface of the field at each end thereof at points representing the goals of. said fields, each of said cups having a central button or knob of resilient material acting as a buffer and tending to prevent a player device resting flat upon the bottom of the cup from becoming readily dislodged by an opponents device.

4. A combination basketball and baseball game board, comprising a board having its upper face provided With markings simulating the markings of both a basketball and baseball field and formed With a cup or depression below the surface of the field at each. end thereof at .points representing the goals of the basketball field, a relatively short cleat at each end of the board adjacent to the corresponding goal cup and providing a rebound surface projecting slightly above the surface of the board for use in the basketball game, and a transverse rebound member extending entirely acrossthe board for covering one of said cups and providing rebound or banking surfaces eXtending at an angle to each other and slightly above the surface of the board for use in the baseball game. i

In Witness vvhereofI hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN B. ODONNELL. 

